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A young child’s interest in toys changes quickly. A new plaything that was a huge hit when first received is forgotten just a few days (make that hours) later. That can be frustrating for parents as the clutter and the bills mount up. That's why a toy rental service makes so much sense. It saves money, space and the environment. Less junk to throw in the landfill!

Toy rental websites offer Netflix-style subscriptions so your kid can try out new playthings on a regular basis. These services are also great for when your child goes on an extended visit to a grandparent or another relative who doesn't have playthings lying around the house. Traveling families can also benefit from shipping toys to a destination to lighten the luggage, just like you might rent strollers or car seats on the road. Here are some toy rental websites that ship packages throughout the United States.

The fun thing about this easy craft project is that the magic happens out of sight, so the final result is a surprise every time. Experiment with different techniques, pulling your string in different ways and wait for the big reveal to see how your masterpiece comes out. Easy enough for the littlest ones, but kids of all ages and even adults can have fun with this.

“Erin go bragh” a phrase expressing allegiance to Ireland, has become synonymous with St. Patty’s Day which many here in America (even if there is no drop of Irish blood in their veins) love to celebrate. Are you wondering what to do with the kids on St. Patrick’s Day in New Haven County? Well, considering its mainly an adult holiday, family-friendly activities are difficult but not impossible to find. I have found a HUGE historic parade and a couple of places to get your fill of corned beef and cabbage! So put on your green garb and take a look! And check out the Hartford County events as well.

Catapults are awesome fun. They fling things through the air, which is always a hit. Add in marshmallows, and you're pretty much guaranteed happy kids. This marshmallow catapult is easy and fun to make, even more fun to play with, and kids won't even realize they're learning about physics along the way.

I've got three kids (the boy kind). I have come to terms with the fact there are video games in my future. Actually, in my now. Mario Kart seems to be everywhere. Groan. But everything in moderation, no? So, when I heard about something called 'video game truck parties' or 'mobile game theaters', I paid attention ... especially considering I have two winter babies requiring weatherproof birthday party options. The appeal (in case it eludes you, like moi)? They're together, shoulder to shoulder, facing down a wall of unfettered screen time ... in some cases joined up simultaneously on the same game. For 120 minutes, they'll barely look each other in the eye, but they'll be comrades, dance champions, gamers.

Friendship bracelets are, along with being a kid’s method of choice for showing your love to friends, incredibly diverse. There are macramé bracelets that are more complicated than ordering at Starbucks. Lanyards bracelets that take hours upon hours to finish. Don’t get me wrong, every type of bracelet has a time and a place; sometimes you just need to chill on the couch and knot some string into a super cool bracelet...for hours. But, little kids who don't have the patience or finger dexterity for more complicated bracelets have friends too; and these beaded yarn bracelets are the perfect way for them to get in on the friendship bracelet action.

If you want your child to excel in science, technology, engineering and math then opting to enroll in a STEM summer camp would be a good way to advance their achievements. With the new Educate to Innovate campaign there has been a recent launch of new STEM based summer camps that will help motivate young people.Check out our list of these summer camps in Hartford and New Haven Counties or take a look at our extensive summer camp guide.

Having a kids' tie dye party is lots of fun, but, admittedly, it can make a bit of a mess. This short-cut tie dye technique not only makes designing tee shirts fun and easy, but adds an element of science for kids to learn. We all think of Sharpie markers as permanent, but this technique uses a solvent (rubbing alcohol) to move the color molecules to make pretty tie dye designs.

Welcome to Mommy Poppins Connecticut!

Welcome to your FREE online resource for families where you can find the inside scoop on what to do and where to go all over the Nutmeg State. Stay up-to-date with on-going FUN activities and FREE events occurring daily in your area. Come play, splash, paint, eat, read, bounce, paddle, run, pet, see & dance with us! Feel free to email me with any questions. I'd love to hear from you. Mary Beth